Some advice needed really..regarding volvo 300 ownership!

[Edcase 300]

I think i now understand what people on the forum mean when they say that theyve got the v300 bug..

Firstly- does anyone know how much welders charge on average? (I know its a v general question).

Does a paint respray raise insurance premiums (just non metallic/non fancy) and how much would you expect to pay?

Im asking as im stuck in a dilema with my folks..

Im going to have to get my own ride and it needs to be practical (again why i like v300 cars)... but budget is restricted & my elders at home are digging in heels...but i might have to get rid off project v360 & i really want some kind of 300 on my drive.Whether it is Project V360 or another volvo 300.

Inspire me peoplez! Im having a bit of a oldcar nut running blues + need some suggestions and contributions my beretherin. Any thoughts welcome lolz

[volvosneverdie]

Weldings not cheap like.
In my experience, from a garage expect to pay 50-70 per hour labour.
So depends on how big the job is.
You might want to put a request up on RetroRides seeing if theres anyone in your area prepared to take on welding jobs for cheap.
A lot of folk do.

Resprays anything from a couple of hundred to a couple of grand depending on what you want.
Average approx 500 for a decent full car job?

Ish.

Shouldnt affect insurance at all.

[Chris_C]

You live within spitting distance of DaveMk1GTI, he often advertises his welding skills. Might be worth a pm?

I've not had anywork done by him, but he did a good job on Dan's car and seemed a nice chap the one time I met him at a meet.

EDIT: If the colour is the same, then no, it's considered general maintenance I'd have thought. Or are you thinking ASBO orange or something

[Edcase 300]

Its nice to hear some car friendly (& more importantly volvo 300 friendly voices)

Yeh man i thought it might be costly -trouble is my poor girl (360) really needs tlc. At the same time i guess its a case of weighing up fuel consumption,money required for specialised work like welding & spraying (asbo orange would be nice but yeh i mean just maintainance atm really) etc. Yeh man i like Retrorides its a gd source for people & rides Davemk1GTi isnt too far-i think about 30 mins as im near Reading myself- i might give him a call at some point if the 360 is to be kept. Im weighing up options- i had a word with Jay J340GLT and he's helped me think a bit clearer too.

Thing is i think it would be a shame to scrap my v360 as its drivetrain is in very good working order as i never really thrashed her etc-shes had her full service and could be a potential project or at least donor potential for people needing 360 parts e.g engine etc. Underneath the vehicle is pretty clean, its the arches and a couple of small holes really ( one in panel by rad) & small one in boot. Trouble is shes tatty,and has several niggles which can be fixed by someone patient whose got some know how & rescources (aka not me ).

Was looking at FWD french drizzle such as Pug 306 HDi thinking all grown up but working out costs of running+insurance+parts+what i can do on the drive= the volvo 300 makes more sense for a young un' really. I might be leaning towards a 340

Right back at ya hommies

[SteveP]

Was looking at FWD french drizzle such as Pug 306 HDi

If you want an expensive bill on your hands when the injectors fail... 1.9TD for safe bets

[Chris_C]

Was looking at FWD french drizzle such as Pug 306 HDi

If you want an expensive bill on your hands when the injectors fail... 1.9TD for safe bets

+1, the horror stories I read about these are what I go back to every time I think about scrapping me car, it puts things in perspective

[Edcase 300]

hehe case settled I did like my mates xsara but i think it was the 1.9tdi rather than the HDi as it did suffer from some lag followed by sudden acceleration once the Turbo kicked in

Tbh the Vulva ticks many boxes the right way-older vdubs seems very good in the way the 340 is good (simple,well made & reliable)- my neighbours got a mk2 polo & another mate has got himself a mk2 jetta.Respect to honest motors

[volvosneverdie]

no.
french.
tin.


serious.

[Edcase 300]

lolz dude the french tins are taking a baking... keep getting told off by the parents for leaving the handbrake to high on the lil AX im having to part share with them

Trouble ive found with shitreons is the controls are so flimsy & lightweight.. +i never understood the deal with putting the horn button on the light selector fork instead of on the steering wheel & the car did blow a headgasket last yr... poor plastic matchbox-mind you it does give good fuel economy

All in all (in my case at least) it would have been cheaper for my folks to just say- lets do up the 360 lolz

Lets here some horror stories. What incidents have you guys had with substandard quality/pre-knackered vehicles? spill...

[Chris_C]

http://www.caranswer.info/car-makes/Peu ... akes-.html

Read the entire thing, it'll make you feel awesome about driving a non HDi

[volvosneverdie]

A warning from history

Be warned.

[Speedy88]

Man I can't believe they still make such catastrophic design fuck ups these days

[Edcase 300]

Man I can't believe they still make such catastrophic design fuck ups these days

+1 Its scary to be honest. I never realised until reading the link that Citreon/Pug HDi design was/is so badly thought out.

Oh dear not much confidence can be placed on pugs or citrs VND's post kind of backs up my experience with the runabout AX dad got (as he didnt want to do up the 360-(when it could have been done) lolz ironically my dad is going through similar levels of senility praising the AX )

I think the one ok thing about the AX weve got is that its a basic model so doesnt have any electrical things) but yet again-stupid design-heaven forbid an accident in one

(just to be egoistic-as i am and add to the topic..)

Lolz my old man (whom i driving mad atm with my banter) yesterday said to me 'son its your money if you want a 340 ' (in a- its got a carb and it still rusts way of his) mmm true (show me a neat example though which i can keep clean & get welded when needs be and argument of his is nil points)-i just want something fairly basic,safe,solid,reliable,which can cruise on the motorway (& escape lorries when they try to box me in!) (lolz which i can fit band gear or mates in) lolz not much then .. (3 door 340 would be great but everyone seems to want them above anything else )

If not a 340 what other vehicle of a similar age could you lot recommend for such needs? lolz under £1K to buy ,simple to work on, focus-ish size like the Volvo 300.... thoughts most welcome ..

Edit: Tell ya what.. cars are bloody stressful but a mans gotta do what its gotta do- 300s are lovely -its just blooming difficult to know what sorta steps to take regarding cars like ours -its confusing-dealers (on peebay) are starting to command big money - yet again seing ones which command over £1k -value is surley gaining... its just blooming unsettling when things do the things they do!

[Speedy88]

hmm, what about a jetta or something like that? Or keeping it volvo, a 740 estate?

[jtbo]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo, don't never ever even joke about to get some french crap (same might be said from Fiats based what I have read here + own experience), see:


1997 french crap Citroen ZX with galvanized body, no any visible problem outside until it was paper thin, failed at MOT to my surprise.

And that is just minor problems with french craps, electrics are horrible, if there is sunroof it may open only when pouring down and it probably won't close after automatically opening without pushing a button, every each of electrical piece will have similar gremlins inside of them, also engines act up, clutches will broke and gearbox will make at least weird noises.

Jetta is somewhat spartan compared to 300, it really is, it has also odd suspension that picks up every stone from road, but still it wobbles at corners. 740 estate is nice, especially later ones with good galvanized body, but parking + petrol costs are tad high, however you will not need a van when having estate seven...